Tobacco curing apparatus



March 5, 1957 w. c. GARNER TOBACCO CURING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1956 6 n E Q W l 5:2. I h ll r V INVENTOR. ML L $4M 6: 6418/1 68 BY ATTUZ/VEYS United States Patent TOBACCO CURING APPARATUS William C. Garner, Farmerville, N. C. Application January 10, 1956, Serial No. 558,290 4 Claims. (Cl. 263-19) This invention relates to tobacco curing, and more particularly to an apparatus used in curing tobacco leaves suspended in an enclosure, such as the ordinary tobacco curing barn.

In the production of bright-leaf tobacco, it is necessary for the curing process to be so carried out that the uncured tobacco gathered from the field and suspended within a barn or enclosure will be so treated by the curing process so as to have the tobacco leaves dried evenly, to produce a brighter (more of the golden color) leaf which is sweeter and heavier in Weight. The foregoing are all factors in determining the price the farmer will get for his cured tobacco.

In some curing apparatus, such as furnaces, oil burning units and combinations of furnaces and oil burning units, there have been several objections, these objections being mainly that there is lack of economy of operation, the uncured tobacco leaves within an enclosure are not all uniformly exposed to the optimum temperature during the various steps of curing.- Also, it is of paramount importance that the cured tobacco have no soot or smoke thereon, since this afiects the quality of tobacco, and consequently, a lower price will be realized in the sale of the tobacco.

Also, since most of the curing buildings or barns are rather crudely constructed, there is normally a cold wall side to the enclosure. Leaves suspended within the building enclosure at the building will not be heated with the same degree of uniformity as those adjacent other walls of the enclosure. This will result in requiring a longer period of heat application to all of the leaves suspended in the enclosure tobacco curing apparatus which can be set up in a given situation to produce the optimum results with a minimum amount of effort, and which apparatus can be assembled from a knock-down condition to a condition of use by the use of merely a screw driver or similar tool.

A still further object of this invention is to providev a tobacco curing apparatus which permits clean, uniform employment of this invention which embodies among itsfeatures a tobacco curing apparatus for use in curing tobacco leaves suspended in an enclosure, comprising means for elevating and maintaining the temperature within the enclosure to a selected degree and intensifying the temperature in selected zones of the enclosure to preserve the uniformity of the selected degree of temperature to which all of the tobacco leaves in the enclosure are subjected, with this means including a plurality of spaced, portable heating units, means for connecting the units together and to a common source of fuel, and heat distributing means on each of the units'for directing the heat into selected zones within the enclosure.

,Another feature of this invention is in the provision of a frame upstandingly carried by the unit and in which the heat distributing and directing means will be maincold wall side of the with the result that many of the leaves will be over cured, losing weight and color with the consequent drop in the tobacco quality to a prospective purchaser.

It is therefore the provide a tobacco curing apparatus which will alleviate principal object of this invention to the above-mentioned objections and problems encountered with the use of prior tobacco curing devices.

It. is another object of'this invention to provide a tobacco curing apparatus which is portable in nature, adjustable with regard to the direction in which the heat may emanate from the apparatus so as to eliminate the cold wall condition, --to enable automatic maintenance of steady, constant heat of predetermined degree during the different stages of curing, the elimination of flues, stacks and vent pipes, eliminate the necessity for level fuel lines,

provide greater insurance against smoked or vsmutted tobacco, provide for a greater weight in the cured tobacco so that a cleaner, sweeter tobaecowill cure his tobacco tained in an upstanding side-by-side relation to direct the heat in the desired zones withinthe enclosure.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, forming the specification, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure '1 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through a tobacco curing enclosure and showing the tobacco curing apparatus embodying this invention in top plan; v

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of one of the units of the tobacco curing apparatus, showing in broken lines -a hooded cabinet which may be employed in connection with the unit;

the present tobacco curing apparatus;

Figure 6 is .a front elevational view ofv one of the radiants used in connection with each of the unit; and

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7 7 of Figure 6. I With continued reference to the drawings, there is shown an enclosure, generally indicated at it which may be a barn or other suitable structure in which sticks of tobacco leaves are suspended for the purpose of curing.

As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of portable heating units, generally indicated at 12, are disposed in spaced relation to each other within the enclosure and supported upon the floor 14 thereof. The units 12 are interconnected .by flexible fuel supply lines 16 connected into the main fuel supply line or pipe 18, and by pilot tubing 20, which may also be of a flexible nature.

The units 12 are disposed within the enclosure 10 in such manner as to provide means for elevating the temperature within the enclosure to a selected degree and for intensifying the temperature in selected zones of the enclosure to preserve uniformity of the selected degree of temperature to which all of the tobacco leaves in the enclosure are subjected. In order to accomplish this, each of the units may be selectively disposed within the enclosure so as to have the heat generated therein directed into selected zones. The purpose of such procedure is to insure a uniform temperature within the enclosure, and especially, in such instances where one wall of the enclosure is colder than the other walls so that the tobacco leaves suspended adjacent thereto can be subjected to the same predetermined degree of heat intensity as well as the other leaves in the enclosure, thereby resulting in complete uniformity of curing and a higher grade of cured tobacco in the finished product.

Cold walls of an enclosure of the type with which this invention is concerned, may be caused by poor construction of the wall, wind striking one or more of the walls, or by the sun beating against one or more of the walls so that the temperature of the walls against which the suns rays are directed will cause these walls to be warmer than the other walls of the enclosure.

The pipe 18 is connected to a common source of fuel for all of the burners 12, the source not being shown.

- It is contemplated that the fuel employed will be liquid gas, although natural gas or other similar type gaseous fuel may be employed. The advantage of such fuel is that it burns with a clean flame giving off no soot or residue which will mar the quality of the tobacco leaves being cured.

Each of the units 12 comprises a pair of spaced parallel frame bars 22 and 24 of elongated rectangular form and disposed with their flat sides in opposed relation to each other, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The frame bars 22 and 24 are supported above and parallel to the floor of the enclosure by pairs of legs 26 and 28 respectively with the leg of each pair being rigidly braced by a reinforcing bar 30 extending at opposite ends between the respective leg and the associated adjacent frame bar in angular relation thereto.

A pair of cast iron burners 32 and 34, having the usual plurality of spaced rows of longitudinally spaced openings in the top thereof, are carried between the frame bars 22 and 24 to extend longitudinally thereof with adjacent 'ends of the burners being in spaced relation to each other. The burners may be secured to the frame bars by screws 36.

In the space between the adjacent ends 31 and '33 of the respective burners 32 and 34, there is carried a pair of spaced pilot lights 38 and 40 carried on a U-shaped strap bracket 42, secured adjacent the free ends of the legs to the frame bars 22 and 24 to extend therebetween, with screws 44 employed for securing the strap bracket to the respective frame bars.

The operation of the pilot lights 38 and 40 is controlled through a fuel and pilot control valve, generally indicated at 46, interposed in the fuel feed line and pilot fuel line tubing at the unit location.

. Carried upon the upper edges of the frame bars 22 and 24 is a base frame 48 of elongated rectangular shape and extending from one end of the frame bars to the other end thereof and across the frame bars at opposite ends. The base frame is provided with an upstanding retaining flange 50 peripherally thereabout. Supported upon the base frame, and in upstanding relation thereto, are

spaced series, generally indicated at 52 and 54, of clay radiants 56 of generally triangular form with the wide base of the radiants supported upon the base frame. Each of the radiants is provided with a solid upstanding wall 58 and the opposite upstanding wall thereof being provided with a plurality of openings 60 therethrough so that heat generated by the burners may be absorbed the openings 60 in the direction desired. To this end, it may be that the radiants, when set into side-by-side relation in each of the series 52 and 54, will have alternating open and solid sides along opposite sides of the unit, or could have all open sides of the radiant facing to one side of the unit with the solid back sides of the radiants to the opposite side of the unit, depending upon the effect required .within the enclosure.

Each of the series 52 and S4 of the radiants 56 extend from adjacent one end of the base frame to a location spaced from the midpoint of the unit so as to define a space therebetween and into which space, the pilot lights 38 and 40 may project. 7

A retaining strap 62, preferably of sheet metal, extends about the bases of the radiants 56 in each of the series 52 and 54 so as to secure each of the radiants in the respective series together against lateral displacement at their bases relative to each other. The strap 62 extends peripherally around each of the series and is supported upon the base frame 48 in upstanding relation thereto.

Each of the series of radiants is provided with a cap 64, preferably of sheet metal, and being of inverted channel shape to overlie the tops of the radiants in each of the series. The cap in each of the series of radiants projects longitudinally therefrom toward each other into overlapping relation to provide a cap over the space between the series of radiants and over the pilot valve situated in the space below the caps.

A pair of cap securing straps 66 and 68 secured at one end to the retaining flange 50 adjacent opposite ends of the base frame and extending upwardly along the outer face of the adjacent radiant and over the radiant caps so that their opposite ends extend toward 'each othe'r and into overlapping relation, is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. Screws 70 secure the outer ends of each of the securing straps 66 and 68 of the respective ends of the base frame 48. A hold-down strap 72, of

generally inverted U-shape has its base 74 extending across the overlapping end portions of the straps 66 and 68 and is secured thereto by a screw 76 passing transversely through the base 74 and the straps 66 and 68. Thehold-down strap 72 extends with its opposite legs in diverging relation downwardly toward the base frame to be secured to the outer surfaces of the frame bars 22 and 24 respectively in overlying relation thereto as by screws 78. It will be noted that the base frame 48 is secured on the upper edges of the respective frame bars 22 and 24 by a plurality of spaced, sheet metal clips 80 secured by screws to the outer surface of the respective frame bars and extending in hook-like fashion over the upper edges of the retaining flange 50 of the base frame.

Also, it should 'be noted that the screws 36, as well as the screws 37 which secure the one end of the reinforcing bar 30 to the adjacent frame bar, also secure the burners 32 and 34 to the frame bars.

In operation, it is recommended that approximately one foot of ventilation at the bottom and one foot of ventilation at the top of the enclosure be provided for every onehundred sticks of tobacco being cured.

The units maybe readily assembled by the simple use of a screw driver, and'placed within the enclosure in the desired locations. The pilot lights 38 and 40 of each of the units are then lighted by manipulation, in the usual manner, of the fuel and pilot control valve 46 so that the pilot lights areignited. It will bQBSSLlHIfid, of course, that the gas at the "source, or storage container, will be turned on prior to the lighting of the pilot valves. A control unit, generally indicated at 82 is installed on the outside of the "enclosure whereby the operation of the supply system and'may be set to a predetermined temperaby the clay radiants and directed therefrom through ture to be maintained within the enclosure, inawell known manner. The interior temperature of the. enclosure is relayed to the control unit 82 through a thermo couple 84 disposed withinthe enclosure so that the control unit 82 will be operative to shut off the flow of fuel to the units 12 when the predetermined temperature has been reached, or to permit fuel to flow into the units when the temperature within the enclosure falls below the predetermined degree.

The pilot lights 38 and 40, in each of the units, afford approximately ten thousand B. t. u. per unit. In most instances, this is enough heat for the first step in curing the tobacco, namely yellowing wherein the coloring of the leaves are accomplished. During the yellowing process only the pilot lights will be employed.

After the proper amount of time has elapsed for the yellowing process, the control unit 82 is set for the proper degree of heat, approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit, to accomplish the next step in curing, namely, toughening up.

The purpose of the toughening up process is to condition the tobacco leaves to stand the intense heat of the remainder of the curing process without injury to the leaves and without removing an excess amount of moisture from the leaves.

Therefore, after the toughening up process has been completed, the control unit 82 is again set for the proper degree of temperature to be maintained uniformly throughout the enclosure for the required length of time to complete the tobacco curing process.

A fuse link 86 is provided in the interior of the enclosure 10 and is operatively connected into the control unit 82 so that in the event of excessive heat or fire, the link will be operable to shut off the flow of fuel to the units 12.

Also, the usual hood or cabinet, shown in broken lines in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and generally indicated at 88, may be provided for each of the units for the purpose of distributing the heat therefrom laterally so that the heat will rise in the enclosure at a uniform rate and will be evenly distributed.

Also, each of the burners 32 and 34 is provided with a manually operated gas cock 90 to permit the flow of fuel or gas from the main gas feed line into the burners, and to control the amount of fuel going into each of the burners.

While there is shown and described the preferred em- 'bodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible to change and modification within the practicability of the invention and therefore should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A tobacco curing apparatus for use in curing tobacco leaves suspended in an enclosure, comprising means for elevating and maintaining the temperature within the enclosure to a selected degree and intensifying the temperature in selected zones of the enclosure to preserve uniformity of the selected degree of temperature to which all of the tobacco leaves in the enclosure are subjected, said means comprising a plurality of spaced portable heating units, means for connecting said units together and to a common source of fuel, and distributing means carried by said units for directing heat into selected zones within said enclosure, control means responsive to the temperature within said enclosure and operatively connected into the common source of fuel to regulate the flow of fuel to said units, each of said units comprising spaced elongated frame bars, a pair of burners arranged in spaced end to end relation and carried by said frame bars to extend longitudinally thereof in the space between said frame bars, a pilot valve for each burner disposed in the space between the burners and carried by said frame bars, and said distributing means including spaced series of radiants carried by said frame bars above said burners for directing heat from the unit in a selected direction with respect to the unit, a base frame having an upstanding peripheral retaining flange carried upon said frame bars for each-of said series of radiants to support the radiants of the series in upstanding side by side relation on the frame bars.

2. A tobacco curing apparatus for use in curing tobacco leaves suspended in an enclosure, comprising means for elevating and maintaining the temperature within the enclosure to a selected degree and intensifying the tempera ture in selected zones of the enclosure to preserve uniformity of the selected degree of temperature to which all of the tobacco leaves in the enclosure are subjected, said means comprising a plurality of spaced portable heating units, means for connecting said units together and to a .common source of fuel, and distributing means carried by said units for directing heat into selected zones within said enclosure, control means responsive to the temperature within said enclosure and operatively connected into the common source of fuel to regulate the flow of fuel to said units, each of said units comprising spaced elongated frame bars, a pair of burners arranged in spaced end to end relation and carried by said frame bars to extend longitudinally thereof in thespace between said frame bars, a pilot valve for each burner disposed in thespace between the burners and carried by said frame bars, and said distributing means including spaced series of radiants carried by said frame bars above said burners for directing heat from the unit in a selected direction with respect to the unit, a base frame having an upstanding peripheral retaining flange carried upon said frame bars for each of said series of radiants to support the radiants of the series in upstanding side by side relation on the frame bars, a retaining strap extending about the lower end of the radiants in each series for securing and maintaining the radiants in their side by side relation.

3. A tobacco curing apparatus for use in curing tobacco leaves suspended in an enclosure, comprising means for elevating and maintaining the temperature within the enclosure to a selected degree and intensifying the temperature in selected zones of the enclosure to preserve uniformity of the selected degree of temperature to which all of the tobacco leaves in the enclosure are subjected, said means comprising a plurality of spaced portable heating units, means for connecting said units together and to a common source of fuel, and distributing means carried by said units for directing heat into selected zones within said enclosure, control means responsive to the temperature within said enclosure and operatively connected into the common source of fuel to regulate the flow of fuel to said units, each of said units comprising spaced elongated frame bars, a pair of burners arranged in spaced end to end relation and carried by said frame bars to extend longitudinally thereof in the space between said frame bars, a pilot valve for each burner disposed in the space between the burners and carried by said frame bars, and said distributing means including spaced series of radiants carried by said frame bars above said burners for directing heat from the unit in a selected direction with respect to the unit, a base frame having an upstanding peripheral retaining flange carried upon said frame bars for each of said series of radiants to support the radiants of the series in upstanding side by side relation on the frame bars, a retaining strap extending about the lower end of the radiants in each series for securing and maintaining the radiants in their side by side relation, a cap of inverted channel form covering the upper end of the radiants in said spaced series, a pair of securing straps overlying said cap and arranged overlapping relation at one end above said pilot lights, the other ends of said straps being secured to said base frame at respective opposite ends thereof to maintain said cap on said series'of radiants.

4. A tobacco curing apparatus for use in curing tobacco leaves suspended in an enclosure, comprising means for elevating and maintaining the temperature within the enclosure to a selected degree and intensifying the temall of the tobacco leaves in the enclosure are subjected, said means comprising a plurality of spaced portable heating units, means for connecting said units together and to a common source of fuel, and distributing means carried by said units for directing heat into selected zones within said enclosure, control means responsive to the temperature within said enclosure and operatively connected into the common source of fuel to regulate the fiow'of fuel to said units, each of said units comprising spaced elongated frame bars, a pair of burners arranged in spaced end to end relation and carried by said frame bars to extend longitudinally thereof in the space between said frame bars, a pilot valve for each burner disposed in the space between the burners and carried by said fr'amebars, and said distributing means including spaced series of radium carried by said frame bars above said burners for directing heat from the unit in a selected direction with respect to the unit, a base frame having an upstanding peripheral retaining flange carried upon it) D 'th'e Selected degree of temperature to which said frame bars for each of said series of radiants to sup- 8 a port the radiant's of the series in upstanding'side byside relation on the frame bars, a retaining strap extending about the lower end of the radiants in each series tar securing and maintaining the radiants in their side by side relation, a cap of inverted channel form covering the upper end of the radiants in said spaced'series, a'pair of securing straps overlyingsaid cap and arranged overlapping relation at one end above said pilot lights, the

other ends of said straps being secured to said base frame 10 at respective opposite ends thereof to maintain said cap on said series of radiants, and a hold down strap secured intermediate its ends to the overlapping end portions'of said securing straps and adjacent its free ends to an adjacent frame bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

